Lead Project Manager

Bridgestone Americas' Firestone Airide specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology for automotive and industrial applications. The Lead Project Manager leads complex automotive vehicle programs from business case development and product development through launch, production, and post-launch support, coordinating cross-functional teams, budgets, schedules, risks, quality, and stakeholder communications.

Responsibilities:

• Lead multiple automotive vehicle programs or complex business processes from concept through production launch and post-launch support (PDP process)
• Organize cross-functional project teams, assign responsibilities, develop integrated schedules and milestones, and determine resource requirements
• Develop and maintain program plans, budgets, staffing assumptions, deliverables, dependencies, and governance routines
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and leadership regarding program status, risks, escalations, and key decisions
• Monitor and report project performance, including cost, timing, quality, profitability, and launch readiness
• Identify and resolve obstacles that could prevent completion on time, within budget, or in accordance with customer expectations
• Integrate supplier and vendor activities into the program plan, and track and review vendor deliverables when applicable
• Coordinate activities across Product Engineering, Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, Account Management, Customer Service, and customer teams
• Facilitate program reviews, launch readiness reviews, working sessions, and decision-making meetings
• Align internal and external stakeholders on priorities, deliverables, ownership, timing, and resource needs
• Build and sustain effective stakeholder relationships through clear communication, influence, negotiation, and timely issue resolution
• Drive accountability across functions, including teams not under the Program Manager's direct authority
• Manage product development milestones in accordance with customer requirements and internal processes
• Lead or support APQP activities and automotive launch processes, including PPAP readiness, FMEA, Control Plans, and related deliverables
• Coordinate change management throughout the program lifecycle, including scope, design, timing, cost, and customer changes
• Track program financial performance against approved business cases and profitability targets
• Monitor tooling, development, and launch expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX)
• Partner with Finance and functional teams on forecasting, budget management, cost optimization, and profitability improvement initiatives
• Evaluate financial risks and opportunities, support fact-based trade-off decisions, and communicate impacts to leadership
• Lead program risk assessments, mitigation plans, contingency planning, and escalation processes
• Ensure adherence to internal and external quality standards
• Drive corrective actions for issues affecting quality, delivery, cost, timing, or customer commitments
• Capture lessons learned and ensure improvements are incorporated into future programs and standard work
• Identify continuous improvement and automation opportunities, conduct detailed analyses, and recommend actions that improve program execution and business performance
• Adapt established practices and, when appropriate, improve standard operating procedures to develop effective new solutions

Requirements:

• • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or a related field
• • 8 or more years of project or program management experience; or 6 years of experience and a master's degree, or a PhD with 3 years of experience or equivalent work experience
• • Experience leading complex product development, launch, business transformation, or similarly cross-functional programs
• • Strong understanding of product development processes, project controls, and launch requirements
• • Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes without direct authority
• • Experience managing schedules, budgets, resources, risks, vendors, and executive reporting
• • Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills
• • Ability to manage multiple priorities and make timely decisions in a fast-paced environment
• • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management credential
• • MBA, advanced technical degree, or relevant postgraduate education
• • Automotive industry experience
• • Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, and automotive launch processes (not mandatory)
• • Experience working directly with OEM customers and Tier 1 suppliers